Aldi and Leader Price enter Italy

Two grocery retailers are entering the Italian market. Aldi Süd is opening its first stores there this month and is looking to open stores in all regions of northern Italy as well as in Tuscany. The retailer says that 75% of the food products will be sourced from Italian suppliers. The retailer brand offer features a range of Italian SKUs including Regione Che Vai (pasta and cooking oils), I Taglieri del Re (cold cuts), Natura Felice (organic products) and Bontlà (dairy products).

Leader Price discount stores also will be entering northern Italy later this year, following an agreement between Italian retailer Crai and Groupe Casino. The network will be run independently from the rest of Crai’s operations, and only a limited number of Crai stores will be converted to the Leader Price banner. The retailer will replicate the standard concept of Leader Price’s French stores, which have a typical size between 300 and 1,100sqm. The ambient assortment is 80% composed of Leader Price private label.